Despite surrendering a two goal advantage, Welling United showed their character when coming back to beat Potters Bar Town in their Isthmian League Premier Division encounter.

Both teams are fighting for their lives in the bottom four so there was always going to be tension but it was Ryan Maxwell’s team who held their nerve to claim a huge win on the road.

Dean Gunner had the first opportunity of the match with a header from Sam Smith’s corner that went just wide before the hosts had a chance of their own when Cole Kpekawa stretched for a header but couldn’t direct it on target.

Troy Howard caused the Scholars’ defence problems when he drilled in a low shot from the right. Potters Bar’s goalkeeper Josh Shattell could only palm it out and was grateful that one of his defenders was first to the rebound to hack it away.

Then, at the other end, the hosts came even closer. Damaray Anyadike cut in from the left and hit a fierce drive that flew back out off the inside of the post. Soon after, Brandon Adams exchanged passes with Joe Re to put him through on goal only to shoot timidly straight at Welling goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley.

Back at the other end, Lewis Gard’s trickery made enough space for him to get a shot away. He couldn’t find the angle, though, and Shattell made the save comfortably.

Former Wing Ryan Blackman then arrived late to get on the end of Dylan Adjei-Hersey’s cross and his header drew a save out of Foley. Sadly for Blackman, that was to prove to be his last on field contribution before he had to helped off the pitch and replaced by substitute Luka Chalwell.

In the closing ten minutes of the first half, Welling started to exert some pressure. Shattell did well to smother an effort from Gunner after a long Zak O’Keefe throw caused problems in the penalty area. Then, the hosts’ goalkeeper made an excellent low save when pushing John Ufuah’s low shot round the post.

Four minutes before the break, the Wings went ahead. Potters Bar struggled to clear a corner. Gard recycled hit and his near post cross was headed home by Lekan Majoyegbe via the underside of the bar and Shattell.

Moments later, the hosts’ goalkeeper was caught out of possession and Gard tried his luck from out wide. Shattell hared back and just managed to scramble it around the post.

One last opportunity fell the way of the visitors deep into first half stoppage time and they took full advantage. They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty and Smith sized it up before launching it into the top left corner.

Early in the second period, Howard cut across the edge of the penalty area before firing back towards the bottom corner and only a tremendous save by Shattell stopped the Wings from going three-nil ahead.

Twenty minutes after the restart, Potters Bar pulled one back. A deep cross fell into the path of Anyadike and he hooked it home, giving Foley no chance.

Re attempted a chip that Foley saved easily before a Chalwell shot rolled harmlessly wide. However, with eight minutes left, the hosts equalised when Adams connected perfectly with a volley and it flew into the back of the net. 

Having lost after leading seven days earlier, Welling showed the character needed if they are to escape the drop by going back ahead two minutes later. Ufuah delivered a brilliant low cross and substitute Jamie Reynolds swept it home superbly despite meeting it with his wrong foot.

They then had to dig deep again and Foley made a great low save from Re before the hosts came even closer in stoppage time. Jacques Kpohomouh was left aghast when his powerful header clattered the outside of the post.

Shortly after, the referee brought proceedings to a close and results elsewhere meant that the victory drew Welling to within one point of safety having played a game fewer than the teams immediately above them.  

Potters Bar Town: Shattell; Adjei-Hersey, Kpohomouh, Kpekawa, Guzynski; Brown-Johnson (Kiwomya 89); Kyei, Blackman (Chalwell 33), Re, Anyadike; Adams.

Subs not used: Teixeira, Young, Halenin.

Goalscorers: Anyadike (66), Adams (82)

Yellow cards: Anyadike (63 ungentlemanly conduct), Kpekawa (65 dissent), Kpohomouh (69 foul)

Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur; Thomas (Oluwatimilehin 71), Smith; Howard, (Paternoster 86) Gard (Reynolds 75), Ufuah; Azeez.

Subs not used: Vukoje, Stewart.

Goalscorer: Majoyegbe (41), Smith (45+4), Reynolds (84)

Yellow cards: Thomas (63 ungentlemanly conduct), Arthur (86 delay of restart), Oluwatimilehin (90+6 foul) 

Referee: Richard Baker

Assistants: Andrew Denikiewicz and George Lowe

Attendance: 408

Pictures supplied by Jimmy Yau.